Self de-energizing relay



Mar h 15, 1 H. M. CRAIN 2,928,917

SELF DE-ENERGIZING RELAY Filed May 21, 1958 i la FIG. 1 FIG. 3

HARRY M. CRA IN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent SELF DE-ENERGIZING RELAY Harry M. Crain, Philipsburg, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application May 21, 1958, Serial No. 736,940

6 Claims. (Cl. 200-106) The present invention relates in general to the art of electrical switch gear and more particularly to novel contact and latching means for self de-energizing electromagnetic relays.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a novel self de-energizing relay for applications wherein it is desirable to open and/ or close contacts in one or more separate electrical circuits by means of an electromagnetic relay and wherein it is not desirable that current be continuously supplied to the electromagnetic relay to maintain the aforementioned contacts in the desired position.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide novel structure for energizing an electromagnetic relay after it has been actuated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a deenergizing latch mechanism operable to maintain a relay in its actuated position and simultaneously remove the relay from the actuating source of current.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel latching structure for an electromagnetic relay wherein the latching means and circuit-breaking means to the relay are combined and operate simultaneously.

These and other objects and features of the, invention, together with incident advantages, will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partially in section showing the relay in its unactivated position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view partially in section showing the relay in its actuated position.

Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the electrical circuit for supplying current to the relay;

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Figure l and Figure 2, it will be observed that there is shown an electromagnetic relay 11 comprised of an L- shaped bracket 12 fixedly attached to an L-shaped insulating portion 13 for supporting therebetween an electromagnet 14, an armature 15 pivotally carried by the upper end portion 16 of the insulating portion 13 and extending over and past the core 17 of the electromagnet 14, and latching and circuit-breaking means 18 operationally associated with the extreme end portion 19 of the armature 15 and fixedly attached to the vertical portion 21 of the bracket 12.

The insulating portion 13 forms a support for the L- shaped armature 15 which armature is supported as at 22 on the insulating portion 13 such that one leg'23 of the armature is disposed in spaced relationship and paral lel with the upstanding leg 24 of the insulating portion and the other leg 25 extends over and past the core 17 of the electromagnet as pointed out herein before. A spring 26 carried on a pin 27 is provided to constantly urge the armature 15 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot point and circuit making and/ or breaking means (not shown) may be provided on or associated Ft ce with the vertical leg 23 of the armature in a conventional manner whereby when the armature is actuated electrical contacts are opened and/or closed in a conventional manner.

Latching and circuit-breaking means 18 for the relay carried by a mounting plate 28 fixedly attached to the vertical leg 21 of the bracket is comprised of a flexible member 29 insulated from and anchored to the mounting plate 28 at 31. A latching member 32 transversely disposed to the flexible member 29 and forming a part thereof is of such length and vertically located to present a substantially vertical surface 33 to the extreme end 19 of the armature and to overlay the armature when the armature is in its down or actuated position. A flexible finger 34 having a contact 35 for providing electrical connection with a contact 36 on the flexible member only when the flexible member 29 is in its position as shown in Figure 1 is insulated from and oppositely disposed from the flexible member.

The flexible member 29 and latching member 32 are so arranged that when the armature 15 is in its normally up or unactuated position, the extreme end surface 37 of the armature is in at least partial abutting engagement with the vertical end surface 33 of the latching member; and when the armature is in its down or actuated position, the latching member 32 overlays and maintains the armature in this position.

it will be observed that the latching member 32 must be moved in a clockwise direction to allow the armature 15 to assume its normal up position and that when the armature is pulled down by the electromagnet the flexible member 29 will cause the latching member 32 to move in a counterclockwise direction thereby locking the armature in its downward position irrespective of whether current is maintained through the electromagnet 14 or not. it will be further observed that when the latching member 32 is in its position as shown in Figure 1, an electrical circuit will be completed through contacts 3536 and that when the latching member 32 is in the position as shown in Figure 2 this circuit will be broken. 7

The operation of the relay 11 and latching means 18 shown herein is as follows: One terminal 38 of the'electromagnet 14 is connected to a source of current 39, such as, for example, a battery or the like, one contact of the latching means, such as, for example, contact 36, is connected to the other terminal 41 of the electromagnet i4, and the remaining contact 35 is connected to a switch 42 which is connected to the source of current 39 to complete the electrical circuit to the electromagnet. Prior to the actuation of the relay, the relation of the armature 15' and the latching member 32 is shown in Figure l, i.e., the flexible member 29 is manually moved in a clockwise direction to allow the spring 26 to move the armature to its up or unactuated position and the flexible member is then released whereby the vertical surface 33 of the latching member abuts the extreme end surface 37 of the armature and functions to aid in urging the armature in a counterclockwise direction and to maintain the armature in its unactuated position. When the latching member is in the position mentioned immediately herein above (see Figure 1), contacts 35-36 are closed and when the flexible member is in the position as shown in Figure 2 contacts 3536 are open.

It may now be apparent that when the switch 42 is momentarily closed, current will be supplied to the electromagnet 14, the armature will immediately be pulled to its down position thereby closing or opening conventional contacts associated with and actuated in a conventional. manner by the armature, the flexible member will move the latching member in a counterclockwise direction tolock the armature in its down position and simultaneously open contacts 35-36 thereby interrupting the supply egeaasw of current to the electromagnet, which current now is obviously no longer needed. 7

It will also be observed that the configuration and combination of the latching means and the contacts.

3536 insure the actuation of the relay every time and renders chattering ofthe relay impossible.

While the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is realized that modifications may be made; and it is desired that it be understood that no limitations on the invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

Having now disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Fatent of the United States is:

1. Latching structure for an electric switch having a pivotally moving armature actuated by an electromagnet comprising: a flexible member having one end movable toward and away from said arms are; a latching member integral with said flexible member for abutting engagement with said armature when said armature is in its unactuated position and overlaying a portion of said arma ture when said armature is in its actuated position; electrical contacts located upon and engaged and disengaged by said flexible member; and means whereby when said latching member overlays a portion or" said armature the electrical circuit to said electromagnet will be broken.

2. Latching structure for an electromagnetic relay having a pivotally movable armature actuated by an electromagnet comprising: a flexible member having one end movable toward and away from said armature; a latching member integral with said flexible member for abutting engagement with said armature when said armature is in its unactuated position and overlaying a portion of said armature when said armature is in its actuated position; electrical contacts located upon and engaged and disengaged by said flexible member, and means whereby when said latching member overlays a portion of said armature the electrical circuit to said electrontagnet will be broken.

3. Latching structure for an electromagnetic relay having a pivotally movable armature actuated by an electromagnet comprising: a flexible member anchored at one end and having its other end movable toward and away from an end surface of said armature; a latching member integral with said flexible member free end extending toward and past said armature end surface whereby said latching member is in abutting engagement with a portion of said armature end surface and urges said armature away from its actuated position when said armature is in its unactuated position and overlays a portion of said armature when said armature is in its actuated position; and electrical contacts associated with and engaged and disengaged by said flexible member, one of said contacts being connected in series with said clectromagnets Whereby when said latching member overlays a portion or" said armature the electrical circuit to said armature will be broken.

4. ,Latching structure for an electromagnetic relay having a pivotally movable armature adapted for actuation by an electromagnet comprising: a flexible. member anchored at one end having its other end movable toward and away from an end surface of the free end of said 4 armature, said flexible member being substantially perpendicular to said armature free end; a latching member integral with said flexible member free end and extending toward and past said armature end surface, said latching member having an end portion for abutting engagement with a portion or" said armature end surface whereby said armature is urged away from its actuated position when said armature is in its unactuated position and said latching member end portion overlays a portion of said armature when said armature is in its actuated position; electrical contacts associated with and engaged and disengaged by said flexible member; and means whereby when said latching member overlays a portion of said armature the electrical circuit to said electromagnet will be broken. 5. Latching structure for an electromagnetic relay having a pivotally movable armature adapted for actuation by an electromagnet comprising: a latching member having an end surface adapted for abutting engagement with at least a portion of an end surface of the free end of said armature when said armature is in its unactuated position; first means for supporting and urging said latching member toward said armature, said latching member being movable toward and away from said armature and located with respect thereto whereby when said armature is in its unactuated position said latching member tends to urge it toward that position and when said armature is in its actuated position said latching member urges it toward that position; and electrical contacts associated with and engaged and disengaged by said first means, whereby when said latching member overlays a portion of said armature the electrical circuit to said electromagnet will be broken.

6. Latching structure for an electromagnetic relay having a pivotally movable armature adapted for actuation by an electrcmagnet comprising: a latching member having an end surface adapted for abutting engagement with a portion of end surface of the free end of said armature when said armature is in its unactuatedposition; first means for supporting and urging said latching member toward said armature, said latching member being movable toward and away from said armature and located with respect thereto whereby when said armature is in its unactuated position said latching member tends to urge it toward that position and when said armature is in its actuated position said latching member overlays a portion of said armature; and electrical contacts associated with and engaged and disengaged by said first means, one of said contacts being connected in series with said electromagnet whereby when said latching member overlays a portion of said armature the electrical circuit to said electromagnet will be broken.

References flirted in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,306,874 Zimmer June 17, 1919 2,069,631 Thomas Feb. 2, 1937 2,317,310 Stern Apr. 20, 1943 2,579,135 Alexander Dec. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 901,749 France Nov. 13, 1944 

